The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease

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Jerry M. Calkins, MD, PhD

Vice President for Medical Affairs, Conjer, Inc. and Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology, University of Arizona College of Medicine

REVIEW

The book, Microcompetition with Foreign DNA and the Origin of Chronic Disease, by Hanan Polansky, offers the reader an enjoyable intellectual challenge. This book is a scholarly work of extraordinary magnitude with the presentation of the author's theory of the relationship between microcompetition with foreign DNA and chronic disease with its origin, progression and resolution.

This is an unusual book. The author sets the tone in the Preface with his thought-provoking, philosophical ideas. Chapters discussing chronic disease processes and outlining treatment by reversal of the abnormal causes are intertwined throughout the book with Technical Note Chapters presenting basic concepts with varying degrees of complexity.

The book is well-referenced with extensively published work that has been peer- reviewed. The author skillfully presents numerous theoretical predictions combined with scientific observations to emphasize and aid in building and substantiating the conceptual ideas found in the central theme of the book, that good health/chronic disease are related by changes in equilibrium with the basic premise that microcompetition with foreign DNA causes chronic disease. The author's insights for the theory that he proposes are thought-provoking and somewhat convincing by the magnitude of supporting evidence that is referenced.

Because of the writing style, organization, terminology, scientific and mathematical concepts presented, this is not an easy book to read, especially for the casual scientific reader. This book lacks significant background information. The author assumes that the reader has some basic understanding and knowledge base.

However, this should not be considered a distraction from reading the book. This lack of background information should not discourage anyone who is interested in the topic. For the novice like myself, it will probably require the reader to reread various sections several times, seek other external sources for clarification, and stretch his or her intellectual horizons with discussions with knowledgeable colleagues.

It is a fine line to walk for the author in presenting background information. Too much would be a distraction from the magnitude of information and concepts presented. The significance of the work would be buried.

The concepts advanced in this book will serve as a nidus for stimulating further investigations and research towards validation of the complex biological concepts that are presented. It will promote increased interest in new multidisciplinary approaches toward understanding the causes of chronic disease and developing therapeutic strategies for prevention and cure.

The book is designed to be thought-provoking. It is an advanced primer for the knowledgeable scientist and physician.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Jerry Calkins is currently the Vice President for Medical Affairs at Conjer, Inc., Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, a member of the medical staff at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, the Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Science Program at Midwestern University, and an Adjunct Faculty member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University. He has authored and co-authored over 150 technical articles, book chapters, and other publications. He has written and edited two books and co-edited a four-volume encyclopedia of biomedical devices. He has also served on the editorial staff of professional journals. As an academic anesthesiologist and engineer, he has been involved in clinical care, education, and research. As an educator, he is interested in teaching engineers how physicians use the data that medical devices provide, as well as, teaching physicians how to use medical devices and instruments. His research has focused upon the application and integration of technology into medicine with emphasis in the areas of artificial organs, patient safety, and the reduction of patient risk in the delivery of anesthesia and critical care medicine. More recently, he has extended his interests to include the integration of alternative health care systems into allopathic medicine. He is currently involved in the development of microfluidic respiratory gas analyzers, pulmonary function monitors, metabolic rate monitors, and non-invasive cardiac output monitors. In addition to these interests, he has particular interests in the scientific basis for the mechanisms of acupuncture and the formulation of acupuncture therapy, as well as, the concepts of energy medicine, and the origin of disease.

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